Method and apparatus for straightening and waving hair



Nov. 27, 1962 R. A. MILLER ETAL 3,065,758

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AND WAVING HAIR Filed Jan. 25, 1961 26 3o s 28 2 5 I mvsmruas *1 ,L u ROBERT A. MILLER "p25 0 0 Q BEATRICE E. MILLER I A 21 28 M- i ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,665,758 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,758 METHGD AND APPARATUS FQR STRAIGHTEN- ING AND WAVING HAIR Robert A. Miller and Beatrice E. Miller, both of 440 E. 174th st, Bronx 57, NY. Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,076 3 Claims. (U. 132-34) The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of straightening and curling kinky hair, such as found in the Negroid race.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an apparatus and a method for clamping tresses of hair at the scalp line to permit the arrangement of the hair of the tress into a curling configuration and at the same time allowing the application of an even, longitudinal stretching tension to the tress whereby with the aid of conventional cold wave solutions the hair is softened and stretched to a straight condition, then set into the desired degree of gentle curl.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for clamping a tress of hair at the scalp and affording means to apply a stretching tension to the tress of hair and at the same time confining the tress of hair to a desired curling configuration.

, It is another object of the present invention to provide .a method and device for straightening highly kinked strands of hair and simultaneously applying a gentler degree'of curl to the hair wherein the device comprises means for clamping a tress of hair at its base while permitting saturation of the hair at the base of the tress with conventional cold Wave solutions and means for applying a uniform longitudinal stress to the tress of hair and also arranging the tress into a desirable curling configuration.

F or further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp for holding a tress of hair while it is being straightened and curled in accordance with the provisions of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the clamp of the present invention in the opened position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the mandrel portion of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view along the lines 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pad used in conjunction with the device of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a new and improved clamp for securely and safely holding tresses of hair while they are undergoing straightening and curling processes. The process of the present invention includes the steps of clamping tresses of hair at the scalp area to perm-it gentle and uniform stretching of the hair to remove unsightly kinks therein while in the presence of conventional cold wave solutions whereby it may be straightened and while in the straightened configuration be set into a more gentle and desired curled condition.

The details of the clamp of FIG. 1 are more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings. The clamp 1 comprises two arms 2 and 3, both of which are embedded in felt coverings 4 and 5. Arms 2 and 3 are pivotally connected by pivot pins 6 and 7 which connect to a reinforcing plate member 8 at one end. The opposite end of arm 2 is pivotally connected to a locking means 9, while arm 3 is terminated with a latching cam 10 which receives in locked condition the cam end 11 of lever arm 12 which is pivotally connected to the locking means 9 when the lever arm 12 is in its closed position. Reinforcing plate member 8 is secured at its other end to arm 3 by means of rivet or pivot pin 13.

Looking means 9 comprises a pivotal linkage formed by a mandrel locking plate 14, to be described later, a lower link member 15, pivot pins or rivets 16 and 17 and cam lever 12. Pin 17 pivotally secures this assembly to arm 2 and pin 16 permits cam lever 12 to be pivoted to engage and disengage the cooperating locking cam 10 on the free end of arm 3.

A mandrel 18, see FIG. 4, is provided for winding the strands of hair of a tress being treated. Recesses or apertures 19 are provided in the body of the mandrel for facilitating the removal of the cold wave solutions used in various steps of the process of the invention, and to facilitate the circulation of the water and neutralizing solution. The left-hand end of mandrel 18 is equipped with a conventional counterclockwise ratchet 20 which is equipped with a square keyed end 21 dimensioned to fit in selected V-shaped notches 22 of locking plate 14-. The right-hand end of the mandrel 18 is provided with a winding key 23 which is fixed to shaft 24. Shaft 24 is keyed at 25 to the right-hand end of the mandrel, and is provided with a rotatable square bearing 26 which is urged toward key 23 by spring 27 and limited by stops 28 in its movement on the shaft. Bearing 26 is positioned by compression of the bearing against spring 27 and by lateral sliding movement in selected cooperating V-shaped notches 29 formed in the upstanding locking plate 30 on the righthand end of reinforcing plate 8. Similar locking formations 22 are formed in the locking plate 14 to receive the ratchet key member 25, as previously described.

A locking member 31 is pivotally attached to one of the legs of mandrel locking plate 30. This locking member has corresponding notches 32 to those notches 29 on the locking member on one of its flanges 33 whereby member 31 may be rotated against the square bearing 26 so that the appropriate notches 32 on flange 33 engage the bearing 26 on its side while the other flange 34, which is unnotched engages the end of bearing 26 nearest key 23 thereby locking the mandrel in position in the two upstanding locking plates 14 and 36. A plurality of notches are provided on members 14, 30 and 31 to permit adjustment of the clamp to varying lengths of hair, which would be wound to different thicknesses on the mandrel and also, to properly adjust for different textures of hair being treated.

While the clamp of the present invention may be used with conventional cold wave solutions, it is important that all parts be made of plastic material, such as nylon, when the clamp is to be used in conjunction with cold wave solutions due to their detrimental reactions when used with metal clamps.

In straightening especially kinky hair such as encountered in the Negroid race, it is desirable to use the clamping apparatus described in the following manner. First a tress of hair is parted oif from the remaining hair of the scalp. This section of hair is then saturated with conventional cold wave solutions which may comprise softeners, wave sets and neutralizers or combinations thereof in the same or separate solutions. The clamps are then applied to the tress and the excess solution on the hair strands above the clamps is wiped off with wetted absorbent cotton or similar material. By also saturating the felt pads 4 and 5 a desirable amount of solution is maintained at the stronger parts of the hair near the scalp. This procedure is followed over the entire scalp until all hair of the scalp has been so clamped.

Next, the hair protruding above the clamps is treated with the appropriate cold wave solutions and rolled on mandrel 18 with an interposed layer of flannel or other absorbent pads 35. Again this procedure is continued over the entire scalp. After suflicient time has elapsed to permit proper softening of the hair, tension is applied to the individually clamped tress by turning mandrel 18 counterclockwise to operate ratchet 20 in a tightening direction to apply straightening forces and also to set the tresses in the desired curling configurations. The degree of curl and straightening is controlled both by the amount of tension applied to the tresses and the amount and time of application of the various cold wave solutions.

The presence of flannel pads 35 assures that the hair will be uniformly and properly stressed since these pads act as shock absorbers to distribute the stretching stresses uniformly throughout the length of the hairs of the tress. After sufficient time has elapsed, which time is governed by the texture and thickness of the hair being treated, the clamps are removed and the hair finally combed or groomed into its desired configuration. Since the pad 35 is made of flannel or other suitable porous material, it will allow for good absorption of the fluids and their penetration to the hair shafts.

With the device and method of treatment described above it is possible to both straighten and wave to a more becoming degree the kinky type hair normally encountered in the Negroid race. This device and method may also be used to process the close-to-the-scalp new growth in hair previously processed.

The principal advantage of the device and method of this invention is that it utilizes the popular processes known in the art as cold wave treatments which do not require the time and expensive apparatus required in hot wave treatments.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 1

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device for clamping tresses of hair in conjunction with hair straightening and curling processes, comprising in combination first and second clamping arms, adjacent ends of said arms being pivotally connected by a bridging reinforcement member, said member having an upstanding bifurcated locking plate attached thereto, the confronting edges of said bifurcated plate having confronting V-shaped notches, said reinforcement member extending in parallel relation along said first arm and being connected to the free end of said first arm, said free end of said first arm being terminated by a camming surface, the free end of said second arm being pivotally connected to a second upstanding bifurcated locking plate having confronting surfaces on the bifurcated legs thereof, V-shaped confronting notches on said confronting surfaces of said legs, a locking cam lever pivotally connected to said second arm for cooperation with said camming surface on said first arm to lock said arms in close parallel relationship, a hair tress winding mandrel, said mandrel comprising an elongated rod upon which the free end of a tress of hair clamped at its base by said clamping arms may be wound, said mandrel being provided with a ratchet member embedded in one end thereof, and turnable in only one direction, a lug protruding from said ratchet member for engagement with selected confronting V-shaped notches on one bifurcated locking plate, the other end of said mandrel having a fixed shaft terminating in a turning grip member and a rotatable bearing disposed on said shaft, said bearing being adapted for engagement with confronting V-shaped notches in said second bifurcated locking plate and a notched locking member pivotally mounted on one leg of said first bifurcated locking plate for holding the mandrel in position.

2. A device for clamping tresses of hair in conjunction with hair straightening and curling processes, comprising in combination first and second clamping arms, a bridging reinforcement member pivotally connecting adjacent ends of said arms, an upstanding bifurcated locking plate attached thereto, the confronting edges of said bifurcated plate having confronting V-shaped notches, said reinforcement member extending in parallel relation along said first arm and being connected to the free end of said first arm, said free end of said first arm terminating in a camming surface, the free end of said second arm being pivotally connected to a second upstanding bifurcated locking plate having confronting surfaces of the bifurcated legs thereof, V-shaped confronting notches on said confronting surfaces of said legs, a locking cam lever pivotally connected to said second bifurcated plate for cooperation with said camming surface on said first arm to lock said arms in close parallel relationship, a hair tress winding mandrel, said mandrel comprising an elongated rod upon which the free end of a tress of hair clamped at its base by said clamping arms may be wound, said mandrel being provided with a ratchet member embedded in one end thereof, which ratchet member may be turned in only one direction, a lug protruding from said ratchet member for engagement with selected confronting V-shaped notches on one bifurcated locking plate, the other end of said mandrel being provided with a fixed shaft terminating in a turning grip member and a rotatable bearing disposed on said shaft, said bearing being adapted for engagement with confronting V-shaped notches in said second bifurcated locking plate, and a notched locking member pivotally mounted on one leg of said first bifurcated locking plate for holding the mandrel in position, a spring being disposed on said shaft urging said bearing toward said turning grip member and stop means on said shaft limiting the extent to which said bearing may be moved along said shaft toward said turning grip member.

3. A device for clamping tresses of hair in conjunction with hair straightening and curling processes, comprising in combination first and second clamping arms, a bridging reinforcement member pivotally connecting adjacent ends of said arms, an upstanding bifurcated locking plate attached thereto, the confronting edges of said bifurcated plate having confronting V -shaped notches, said reinforcement member extending in parallel relation along said first arm and being connected to the free end of said first arm, said free end of said first arm terminating in a camming surface, the free end of said second arm being pivotally connected to a second upstanding bifurcated locking plate having confronting surfaces of the bifurcated legs thereof, V-shaped confronting notches on said confronting surfaces of said legs, a locking cam lever pivotally connected to said second bifurcated plate for cooperation with said camming surface on said first arm to lock said arms in close parallel relationship, a hair tress winding mandrel, said mandrel comprising an elongated rod upon which the free end of a tress of hair clamped at its base by said clamping arms may be wound, means for producing a slight slack in the force of the mandrel to facilitate the disengagement of the hair tress, said mandrel being provided with a ratchet member embedded in one end thereof, which ratchet member may be turned in only one direction, a lug protruding from said ratchet member for engagement with selected confronting V-shaped notches on one bifurcated locking plate, the other end of said mandrel being provided with a fixed shaft terminated with a turning grip member and a rotatable bearing disposed on said shaft, said bearing being adapted for engagement with confronting V-shaped notches in said second bifurcated locking plate, a spring being disposed on said shaft urging said bearing toward said turning grip member and stop means on said shaft limiting the extent to which said hearing may be moved along said shaft toward said turning grip member and a notched locking member pivotally mounted on one leg of said first bifurcated locking plate for holding the mandrel in position, said lug and bearing being of square cross section whereby said lug and said bearing may be accommodated by selected confronting V-shaped notches of said locking plates, one leg of said bifurcated locking plate on said reinforcement member being provided with a limiting means for positioning said mandrel relative to said bifurcated locking plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis Aug. 25, 1931 Villinger June 21, 1932 Bonat July 19, 1932 Seiter July 25, 1933 Bonat May 11, 1937 

